THE BUNKHOUSE

Hosted by Reno Nevada (aka
Reno of Memphis.) A forum for friends and colleagues of Dr. B.
Banzai to exchange ideas and to share experiences.

To submit a letter to the Bunkhouse, please e-mail to Reno. Letters may
be edited for length, content, and clarity. All correspondance
becomes the property of the Banzai Institute. Reno regrets that
the volume of mail prevents him from replying personally to all
e-mails. (Also, his regular Institute duties keep him pretty
busy, too.) -R

Dear Svetlana: I'm happy to report that Alive is
a work of fiction - at least as far as we know. It is a
post-apocalyptic vision of a world populated by zombies, and
of a handful of human survivors struggling to stay alive.
It is a miniseries of webisodes posted on YouTube and on www.falconrockcommand.com.
In confirming this info, we checked with Alive writer-producers
Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens (both of whom are well-known
admirers of Dr. B. Banzai). But when I asked them, "What
is that overthruster doing there?", all they would say was,
"We'll tell you later." Then they hurried out
of the room to deal with some kind of watermelon crisis. -R

Dear Paul: Mrs. Johnson seems to think it's pineapple,
but Perfect Tommy swears that it is a secret blend of exotic
Central American herbs, mixed with old sneakers and rocket fuel
from the space shuttle. Personally, I tend to side with Mrs.
Johnson on this one. -R

6/25/07

Hey Reno: Last month I had to make a drive from Orlando, FL
to Buffalo, NY which took me through the Western part of Virginia
and into West Virginia. I decided since I was going to be passing
through an rather mountainous area, that I would wear my shirt
with the Banzai Institute and Team Banzai patches. Turns out
if you drive that way, you actually drive straight through two
mountains. It may not have been traveling across the 8th Dimension,
but it made me smile to think that I had probably the most appropriate
shirt of mine on when I went through those mountains. Send along
my best wishes to the rest of the Institute and if you are ever
in need in the Buffalo area, feel free to get in touch.

-Number_6
Be seeing you...

Just goes to show that it never hurts to carry a spare
overthruster in your trunk, just in case! -R (Not a number...)

5/4/07

Heya Reno,

Maybe it's not a wise move to alert other potential bidders,
but I saw on the Clancy Brown website that he is going to
have a charity auction soon, that will include memorabilia
from our favorite docudrama.

Hope all is well with you and yours,
-Rathany

Thanks for the heads-up, Rathany. I should mention that
the auction ends on May 30th, so check it out! Your purchases
will support the Beth Brown Memorial Foundation, which was
formed by Clancy's parents in honor of his older sister, who
died of juvenile leukemia in 1964.

5/1/06

Dear Reno; Whats the name of that
song Buckaroo sings to Penny Priddy? I'm a big fan and i tell
everyone I know, to the point of appearing shallow. Is there
anyway to download a recording? -Paul

Dear Paul; "Since I Don't Have You" has been called
"the best break-up song ever." With a tune by Jimmy
Beaumont and lyrics by Joe Rock, who wrote the words while at
a traffic light in 1958 -- or so says the legend.

It was a doo-wop hit for the Skyliners in March of 1959. According
to iTunes, it has been recorded by Art Garfunkle, Johnny Mathis,
Barbra Streisand, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, New Edition, Ricky
Nelson, Guns N' Roses, James Darren, Jay and the Americans, Don
McLean, Ronnie McDowell, Joey Welz, and Thomas Stafford. The
Deoras did a cover for George Lucas' "American Graffiti,"
while James Beaumont recorded the song on two different revival
versions of the Broadway musical "Grease."

Despite countless requests, it has never been officially recorded
by The Hong Kong Cavaliers. -Reno

3/1/06

Bonjour,

I just noticed a funny fact : During the movie introduction
sequence the control team give some coordinates to doctor banzai.
these coordinates are supposedly the jet car position.

Well I just used google earth to check these coordinates...
It's the position of the launch pad 39A at the kennedy space
center. Launch Complex 39-A. Launch Complex 39's Pad A and Pad
B were originally designed to support the Apollo program and
were modified for Space Shuttle launch operations.I don't know
if anyone had noticed this before but I share it just in case.
Best regards,

Hi there: Don't know if you got this yet, but there is a nice
little interview up at Moonstone's site with BB comic's Editor-in-Chief
Joe Gentile, penciler Stephen Thompson, and inker Keith Williams.
People can find it at: http://www.moonstonebooks.com/interviewTeamBanzai.asp
-Dan

Blue Blaze Irregulars Uqbar and Arclight both sent this
link our way. It's a terrific interview with the three creators
of the upcoming Buckaroo Banzai comic book from Moonstone.
I'll step out of character this one time, and let the interview
speak for itself. -R

12/28/05

Dear Reno, How can I become an official Blue Blazer Irregular?
-Marty

Dear Marty: To quote the official brochure, "At the
moment there are no less than 6,000 active Blue Blaze Irregulars
world wide - men, women, and children who attend selected symposia
at the Banzai Institute, who submit their bodies periodically
to rugged physical training at such places as the desert survival
school in Nevada, the mountaineering school in Alaska, and a
half-dozen others around the globe; who are required yearly to
make certain educational advancements; who are "on call"
twenty-four hours a day to help B. Banzai in a pinch, or their
neighbors in a natural disaster. Blue Blazes are, when all is
said, ordinary and yet extraordinary people."

Actually, we do hope to be able to accept online applications
at some point in the future. At the moment, however, plans are
still held up by the outbreak of mad penguin disease at the Antarctic
station. I believe there is still a fan website that serves as
an unofficial registrar of BBI "handles." -R

Thank you, Arclight. Arguably one of the finest character
actors of our time, Vincent Schiavelli's resume reads like a
litany of modern film culture. From huge classics like Amadeus
and Ghost to rampant silliness like Death to Smoochy
and Dorf on Golf to genre favorites like Star Trek: The
Next Generation, Highlander, M.A.N.T.I.S., Buffy, and of course,
the nocturnally appreciative John O'Connor. Mrs. Johnson just
stepped in to remind me that his three books are a delight for
those who enjoy Itialian cooking. We offer our condolences to
his family, friends, and loved ones. -R.

12/15/05

Reno - A happy Christmas/Kwanzaa/Hanukkah/Solstice/Ramadan
to all you guys at the Institute. Like a lot of others who grew
up following the adventures of Buckaroo Banzai, my holiday still
isn't complete without popping in my trusty old copy of "The
Hong Kong Cavaliers Save Christmas" at least once. My favorite
part is still when you pose as Sankt Nikolaus to confound the
evil army of Krampusse unleashed by Hanoi Xan. But to this day
I still wonder, did you voice the animated Reno Nevada yourself?
-Cailte

Cailte Cailte Cailte; This time of year someone always
brings up that well-intentioned, but ill-fated animated special
as if to purposely remind me of my all-too human frailties. My
only consolation was that Perfect Tommy ended up as the back
end of the donkey in the Festivus reenactment. Let's all say
it together, "Hee-haw, my ass." But to answer your
question, the voice you hear from the animated Reno was none-other
than the multi-talented, but alas now departed Mel Blanc. (And
for those keeping track, Buckaroo's voice was Frank Welker, Perfect
Tommy was Don Messick, and Hanoi Xan was the inimitable James
Hong.)

The Happiest of Holidays to all. -R

11/8/05

Reno: Recently, some concerns were expressed on the World
Watch On-Line e-mail list regarding how exactly one can get their
hands on a copy of the upcoming BB preview comic. I shot Joe
Gentile over at Moonstone Books an e-mail yesterday to help clarify
the availability issue. This is what he had to say:

"The BB preview will be available to any comic shop in
the US and beyond who order it from Diamond, FM, or COLD CUT.
As to how many units will be printed, that really depends on
how many are ordered. Fans need to tell their local shops that
they are interested in BB! For those living in an area without
a comic shop, or in the event that their local store will not
carry the issue, people can purchase a copy either through a
mail order comic shop, an on-line comic shop, or at the Moonstone
booth at the conventions we attend, or direct from Moonstonebooks.com!"

So there you have it! Moonstone isn't making the BB preview
hard to find because, well, if they did, it wouldn't be much
of a preview. Make sure to let your local comic store know you're
interested in a copy! -Big Shoulders

Thanks for the update, Big Shoulders! -R

UPDATE 11/09: Big Shoulders informs us that Joe Gentile
has confirmed that Issue #1 of Buckaroo Banzai: Return of
the Screw will hit the shelves in April of 2006! -R

9/10/05

Hey there Reno, Caught back up with the gang and the Canadian
branch of the Irregulars at Dragoncon. Is it still possible to
bring my dim sum recipes and sake back to the fold? Moto Mama
and Pixie did ya proud. They got me back in. -Skates

We thought folks might like the
skinny on the BB fan table at this year's Dragon*Con over Labor
Day weekend. Here's what we have for you:

Briefly, the table was a hit! On Friday, Pixisticks Galore
managed to snag a spot directly across from the Art Show entrance
and in the middle of the thoroughfare. Moto Mama arrived with
a Team Banzai banner and assorted goodies on Saturday morning
and set up shop. We kept the "Team March" on a loop
playing over and over, offering profuse apologies to our TT20
tablemates and the author at the table next door. We undoubtedly
drove them nuts, but they said it was fine.

The music drew Banzai fans to the table like bees to honey.
People would walk by, stop, look around to see where the sound
was coming from, and hone in on the table with expressions of
amazement on their faces. And the table looked fantastic. One
fellow was so excited to see the Oscillation Overthruster replica
on display, Pixisticks thought he was going to require clean
underwear. The mini-watermelon at the table was a big attention-getter
too. It received lots of "What's that watermelon doing there?"
comments, especially after we tied a BB headband around it!

Visitors were treated to a number of great handouts. The Japanese
jelly candies that Moto Mama brought were a great hit. Chicken
in a Watermelon recipe cards, flyers, Banzai Institute pens,
and Team Banzai bumper stickers all flew off the table; to the
point where we had to keep an eye on those items. Some people
tried to take handfuls. People enjoyed looking through the binder
of art from the upcoming BB graphic novel, but most of the fans
were simply amazed to find that they weren't alone in their admiration
of Dr. Banzai's work. Some were just happy to have finally found
someone who knew how to properly respond to, "Remember;
no matter where you go..."

We really enjoyed talking to all of the people who stopped
by, and there was certainly a steady stream of interest. The
pens, recipe cards, and bumper stickers were gone by Sunday afternoon.
All in all, it was a definite success. We were even told by several
people that our table made the whole weekend worthwhile! This
was very much a team effort. Many thanks to BBIs Big Shoulders,
Dragon, Lowlight, Agate, Sharkey, and Joe Gentile of Moonstone
Books for all of their contributions! -Moto Mama and Pixisticks
Galore

Dear Moto and Pixi- Thanks for the great report, and for
all your efforts on behalf of the Banzai Institute and the over-arcing
cause of freedom. I passed your report along to Buckaroo when
he called in from Biloxi this morning, and he asked me to tell
you, "Well done," and to remind Moto Mama that he's
still counting on her to supervise the Combat Driver Training
and Frisbee Competition during the second weekend in December.
-R

9/1/05

Hi there, Dang, made a little error in the Dragon*Con message
to y'all. The fan tables will actually be housed in "The
Marriott Marquis' capacious Ballroom Level pre-function area..."
Sorry, one part of the on-line brochure said one thing and, you
get the idea.

Also wanted to mention that members of needcoffee.com and
One Tusk Productions will be at the convention sitting on various
panels, running a late night movie marathon, and representing
Moonstone Books at the convention. I think they have a few Moonstone
related goodies to give away, perhaps even a Buckaroo Banzai
tee-shirt or two. Wish I could be at the convention myself, but
hoping that everyone attending has a great time.

It is sad that this year's convention falls under the shadow
of what can only be one of the most terrible natural disasters
ever to have visited our nation. Good luck to Buckaroo and the
crew in Biloxi. May all of us find a moment of courage, charity,
and unity to reach out in whatever way we are able and help bring
those on the brink of despair back into the light. - Dan Berger

Thanks for the update, Dan. Years ago Rawhide and I had
a close shave with an unsavory underworld character who went
by the name One Tusk. Please exercise caution. -R

8/29/05

Hey Reno, We need to do something about the Hurricane in New
Orleans. Any suggestions? -BBI Micky Maus

To quote Ming Tzu, "To stop the wind is to pretend
at God." There's not enough room in the Jet Car for all
of us to join the Strike Team that is flying in with supplies.
But we can all take a look at our finances and our personal blessings,
and each of us decided if we can make a little extra donation
to the American
Red Cross or one of the other fine emergency services and charitable agencies.
On behalf of those in need, thank you. -R

8/29/05

Hi Reno, Just a heads up to let those of you going to Dragon*Con
in Atlanta over the Labor Day weekend know that there will be
a Buckaroo Banzai fan table at the show this year! The
table is being put together by BBI Moto Mama and BBI PixyStix
Galore in conjunction with the folks from TT20, a Canadian science
fiction convention held annually in Toronto. Fan tables are located
on the Hyatt Concourse. Preview art form the forthcoming Buckaroo
Banzai comic book will be on hand, as well as a number of other
BB related goodies. Stop on by if you get the chance! -Big Shoulders

Hey Dan! Thanks for the heads-up. It's always great to
see the Blue Blaze Irregulars out in force. Buckaroo was planning
to stop by Dragon*Con, but he just got a special request from
the Red Cross. Looks like we'll be flying in to Biloxi with a
load of food, clothes and blankets. I hope you all stay safe
and dry in Atlanta, as hurricane Katrina moves inland. -R

8/18/05

Hi Reno, I just noticed another reference to Dr. Banzai's
docudrama in the entertainment industry. As an introduction to
the episode "Wishbone" of Cartoon Network's The
Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, Mandy quoted the good
doctor with "Evil, pure and simple from the eighth dimension."
Proof that the good doctor has fans everywhere. - Chuck

Dear Chuck; Thanks for keeping an eye open. With so many
supporters of Buckaroo's philosophies in the entertainment business
and around the world, "Banzai Spotting" cou become
a full-time job. By the way, a special note to BBIs in the Los
Angeles area: Seems that one of the local TV stations, KCOP-13,
will be airing our favorite docudrama on Saturday, August 27,
2005 at High Noon. I know that most of us already have the Collector's
Edition DVD, but it might be fun to tune in anyway, especially
if you're a Nielson family. I've already programmed my TiVO!-R

8/17/05

Hello Reno, I am looking to assemble a replica of Buckaroo's
pilot suit as worn in the Jet Car... can you please direct me
to the right resources? Patches, insignia, footwear, head-band...
head-to-toe! Thanking you, Cpl. Dom Beaudoin

Dear Corporal; The costume worn by Peter Weller in the
1984 docudrama is fairly accurate to Buckaroo's own pilot suit,
worn during supersonic tests and concerts at Wembley Stadium.
Part parachute jump suit / part Soviet test pilot gear / part
donated by Rick Springfield from his "Don't Talk to Strangers"
music video, the suit has been greatly modified over the years,
sometimes for a specific mission and more often to make repairs
(you can't get yak blood out of leather and nylon). As for the
patches and insignia, those are easily obtained from our friends
at http://www.starland.com/bb/index.html.
Sorry I can't be more help. -R

8/11/05

Hey there Reno: I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet,
but astronomers have, apparently, officially discovered Planet
10.

Dear Xlent63: At this point, there is no cause for concern.
Our contacts at NASA assure us that this object is probably NOT
the 8th dimensional home of the Lectroids that we encountered
some time ago. But we'll keep our ears to the ground, just in
case. -R

8/10/05

Dear Reno:

Anniversaries are usually considered to be events inspiring
looks backward. Somehow, though, it seems that we've had enough
of those. I would like, on this first trip around the sun into
into a new decade of Banzai memories, to look forward.

I like to believe that we can look forward to seeing the Institute,
its staff, and its inimitable leader, casting heroic shadows
as the spotlight once again picks them out. While security concerns
and the deep cover under which Team Banzai currently must cloak
their endeavors are understandable in the short term, I have
high hopes that one day their stories may once again be told;
that compromise of international security will no longer be a
consideration, that those whose names must now be kept secret
will no longer be in jeopardy, that the Team's riveting tales
of outrageous gambles, desperate measures, rewarding losses and
heartbreaking victories will finally be recountable, and that
their long labors in the twilight world of espionage and international
intrigue will finally and again have their day in the sun.

In the meantime, a songwriter friend of mine (whose work I
think Dr. Banzai might enjoy) has a line on his latest CD, "If
in between these two extremes is what life is all about, it might
be a whole lot easier to wait 'till the movie comes out."
%-/

Perhaps. In the meantime, I echo many of the sentiments previously
expressed among us. I am grateful for most of the memories my
small association with the Institute has left me, am very glad
of those friendships I still enjoy, and have learned to let the
silence take the rest. And to those like Arclight, who hold the
torch high and serve the BBIs with integrity and good will, my
deepest appreciation and respect.

I trust that the Institute has many more decades ahead of
it than behind, and that the future holds only bright lights
and open doors for Dr. Banzai, the Institute and its staff, and
our revered documentarians.

Appreciatively, Hollywood

Dear Hollywood: "Silence takes the rest." -R

8/10/05

Happy Anniversary. There's hardly a day that goes by where
I don't think about Buckaroo and all the opportunities that have
opened up for me because of him and his film. As I sit in my
studio and see his signed picture on my wall, I am very thankful
for everything that he and everyone at the Institute (especially
Hollywood) has done for me. I owe much of my success to it. -
Clyde

P.S. Tell Imperfect Tommy that I still have the tape of him
in the porta-potty in Mexico. If he doesn't stop the "strike
team" visits at 3am, I send the tape to a certain gossip
reporter at FOX News.

Dear Clyde; I think it is safe to say that none of us would
be where we are without Buckaroo Banzai. Besides the obvious
revelation that the human race would have been exterminated countless
times if not for his efforts, for many of us his impact has been
more personal, more direct, even profound. His example runs through
our lives like George Bailey; trickling down to those we touch
and those who touch us. For all of us here at the Banzai Institute;
for W.D. Richter, Earl Mac Rauch and all the talented men and
women who created the docudrama released on this day in 1984;
for Hollywood who saved the fan mail from the studio incinerator;
for Catnip and Illinois Kate who helped her answer it all; for
Silver Fox and Clyde and John Howling Mouse and Fern and Carol
and Leni and Michelle and all the others who formed the grassroots
movement that is continued today by Figment, Arclight, Dragon,
Abacus, Renegade, the Cyclone Rangers, and so many others across
the internet and around the world ... for the People of Earth
great and small, we take note of this day and tip our Stetsons
to Buckaroo Banzai. -R

P.S. Tommy says the strike teams were Pinky's idea, and
Darie Alexander is on his side.

8/9/05

Dear Reno:

Thanks to Rathany who wrote: "Heya, Looks like there
are some TABB fans amoung the writers of the show Stargate-SG1.
The new main character, Lt. Col. Cameron Mitchell said 'No
matter where you go, there you are' Buckaroo Banzai said that'
during last week's episode. That quote gets used alot, but it
is nice to see it credited to the Boss."

I, too, saw that episode, and had a sweet moment envisioning
Teal'c watching The Adventures courtesy of Daniel Jackson,
who surely would know and love the movie. In another reality,
Dr. Jackson might well have been a valued member of the Institute's
staff, and Drs. Banzai and Hikita would have been honored consultants
on the Stargate project.

But then, perhaps not, and for the best. Perfect Tommy would
have tinkered with the MALP, which was never designed to go through
a wormhole at Mach whatever; Reno and Billy Travers would have
wanted to upgrade the computer interface to the distress of Siler
and his crew; Teal'c would have taken a dim view of an institute
where the security team allows big pink boxes to come over the
wall without question; Rawhide and O'Niell would have compared
dismal notes on cryogenics; and Mrs. Johnson would have had conspiratorial
talks with Sam and Dr. Frasier about the idiocy of men, leaving
the male personnel of both institutes edgy over all the whispering
and snarky giggles.

However, on the eve of the 21st anniversary of The Documentary,
it's nice to know that some engineers of popular culture have
not forgotten those who kept the world free for their own alternate
realities to find an audience.

-Hollywood (who thoroughly enjoyed this small homage....)

What can be added except, "Chevron One, Encoded."
-R

8/4/05

Heya, Looks like there are some TABB fans amoung the
writers of the show Stargate-SG1. The new main character,
Lt. Col. Cameron Mitchell said "'No matter where you go,
there you are' Buckaroo Banzai said that" during last week's
episode. That quote gets used alot, but it is nice to see it
credited to the Boss. Hope all is well you you and yours, -Rathany

8/3/05

Heya Reno, Long time no type! Didn't know if out far flung
Blue Blazers had heard about this, and you hadn't mentioned it,
so I thought I'd share! http://team.gobanzai.com/index.html Go check
it out. I'll be here when you get back... Oh, you're done! Good.
Isn't that just cool? Great to see that the bosses associate,
Dr. John Choi, (who co-founded the west coast branch of the Institute,)
is finally taking that conversation that he was part of at the
institute spring picnic a couple years ago seriously, (Buckaroo
was joking about developing an automatic pilot system in in the
Jet Car, and Perfect Tommy wanted to use Mac OSX so he could
port his iTunes library over to it and install a kickin' stereo.
Who knew that John would give it a shot? Fortunately I'd had
a little too much Kouromiss that night, and forgot about it until
now, otherwise I'd have probably cannibalized Tommy's ProTools
recording setup and stuck it under the hood of the Fishmobile!
He'd have KILLED me!) Looks like DARPA are really interested
in the possiblities. Say, didn't General Catburd become a special
contract consultant for them when he retired from the Joint Chiefs?
So, Kudos to Dr. Choi and company. The Toureg is pretty cool,
but I guess I'm a traditionalist. Should have used a Ford F-350.
Anyway, hope all is well. A pretty good contingent of the Cyclone
Rangers just got back from a training retreat in Greenville,
OH, and we're currently recovering from that! Other than that,
it's business as usual. We did a major overhaul of the website
recently, and will probably have another soon to reflect what
we've since picked up in Greenville! Check it out at: http://www.cyclonerangers.org We've finally
published the majority of another story, (The Cyclone Rangers
vs. The Evil Dr. ?) Would have been done a while back, but the
statute of limitations wasn't up yet ;-) Keep in touch! Xia Xia!
-Daniel "The Fish" Trout BBI Kataka

Thanks, both! More proof that the good Doctor's colleagues,
fans, and supporters are ubiquitous! -R

8/1/05

Dear Banzai Institute, If you watch the writers' commentary
of The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, during that end
credits/curtain-call scene, they first say that it was homage
to Banzai, and then clarify that actually, it's just stolen
from Banzai. They are fans, and loved that end scene of
Banzai. Also, they say that Jeff Goldblum was cast after
this scene was already in the script, so it is actually coincidence
that he is in this. Also, I wanted to point out some other similarities.
Both movies have

1. ...an international team of "misfits" in an exclusive
boys club who are admired scientists
2. ...team names: Team Zissou (from the stars documentary screens)
and Team Banzai
3. ...an ending curtain-call scene where the major (and minor)
players come walking into the camera one by one.
4. ...simple, cheesy, wonderful electronica music throughout
the film's soundtrack
5. ...Jeff Goldblum

Thanks! -Michael Schnuerle

Dear Michael: Thanks for the confirmation. Seems that Banzai
fans are everywhere! (But we knew that already, didn't we?) -R

7/14/05

Hi. I noticed, in the Jeff Goldblum movie, The Life Aquatic
with Steve Zissou, that during the playing of the end credits,
the main character (Steve Zissou, played by Bill Murray) marched
briskly down a walkway toward the camera and was joined one or
two at a time by the others, including a brisk turn onto a ship's
ramp. This was too similar to the end of The Adventures of
Buckaroo Banzai be ignored. My guess is that someone, such
as the director or writer, is a big fan of Buckaroo Banzai. The
fact that Jeff Goldblum was a part of this end-credits-walk was
probably no coincidence and may even have been suggested by him
or, at least, dittoed by him. It would be interesting to know
the story behind this. If you can use your extensive connections
to find anything out about it, I think that it would be fun to
know and share. My best, Dave Cloyd

Dear Dave: We noticed that, too. Unfortunately, our e-mails
to director Wes Anderson and to Jeff Goldblum went unanswered.
We fear it has something to do with Perfect Tommy's tendency
to be a little too enthusastic with his fashion advice, expecially
to those who might not share his tastes. Nevertheless, no less
than six reviewers have noted the Banzai homages, not only in
the end credits, but in the film itself. Obviously, imitation
is the sincerest form of flattery. -R

7/12/05

Hi Reno,

Big Shoulders here. Seems like it wasn't so long ago that
we were cooking up a 20th anniversary edition of World Watch
One along with the odd chicken in a watermelon. Now, with
the prospect of a brand new Buckaroo Banzai adventure looming
on the horizon, it's time to saddle up again.

The next issue is already shaping up to be a doozy. Coverage
includes an in-depth look at Heroes in Trouble; the long
lost television show proposed by Earl Mac Rauch and W.D. Richter
in 1986 and conceived in the spirit of Buckaroo Banzai. Other
articles include a follow up interview with W.D. Richter, a look
into Buckaroo's return to comic books, and a few other surprises.

How about you? Have an idea for an article? Artwork? A little
something for the Bulletin Board? Figured out what dark matter
is? Let us know! E-mail us at Uqbar101@aol.com and BluBlazDragon@aol.com.

Need a copy? Of course you do! Send your snail mail address
to the e-mail addresses above for a copy. For those of you already
on our mailing list, please contact us in the event that your
address has changed.

Missed the last issue? Not a problem. The 20th anniversary
edition of World Watch One is now available in pdf format
at the World Watch OnLine website. Just go to http://www.worldwatchonline.com/library.htm
and scroll about half way down the page.

Viva Banzai!

-Dan "Big Shoulders" Berger, Alan "Dragon"
Smith

6/7/05

Reno- Just watched Independence Day and realized that
a rift from the Banzai Theme was "sneaked in" when
Jeff Goldblum explained his theory how to breach the aliens'
force field. Would like to know if it was my imagination or not.
-Colin Tan

Dear Colin- You have a good ear, but I think this is more
a case of wishful thinking. After Goldblum demonstrates the virus
and is about to activate the alien flight mechanism, the melodic
lead-in of the first three notes is the same as Michael Bodicker's
now familiar Banzai March used in the 1984 docudrama. But after
those notes, the progression continues in a different direction,
although still with a martial theme. Further similarity is added
because David Arnold's ID4 melody begins with a lone piccolo,
not unlike the single high-pitch notes used throughout Bodicker's
work.

Along the same lines, see if you can find a copy of the
1985 film Into the Night starring Goldblum and Michelle
Pfieffer. I won't spoil it for you because it's a movie worth
seeing, but my recollection is that you want to pay special attention
to the scene near the end, when Goldblum gets into the red sports
car.

It's been a while since I've reviewed that film, but drop
me a note and let me know if I'm right. -R

Dear Savoyard: Very cool! Distributed network computing
allows just about all of us to make a real contribution to important
scientific research. By the way, I understand that SETI@Home
will switch over to the Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network
Computing at some point in the not-so-distant future. -R

1/16/05

Dear Reno: I was thrilled to read about the forthcoming
Buckaroo Banzai graphic novel in development at Moonstone.
It's been too long since I've been able to enjoy the latest issue.
One question: Can you tell me anything about the story? Is it
based on the old BB Versus The World Crime League script?
Or is it from the long-rumored new BB novel from Earl Mac Rauch?
Thanks, -BBI Weldon Rumproast

Dear Weldon: I've just conferred with W.D. Richter, and
he absolutely refused to comment on the matter at this time,
citing the nuclear nonproliferation treaty. The only thing he'd
say for the record was to emphatically deny the Internet rumor
that it'll be based on the director's cut of Oliver Stone's Alexander.
-R

1/9/05

Hi Reno, Big Shoulders here. Life has been pretty busy around
the bureau offices lately. For some reason, the World Watch wire
is crackling like the third rail on the Chicago "L"
these days. Something must be up, because we are now completely
out of the 20th anniversary edition of World Watch One. I have
my suspicions, but let's just say that demand for the newsletter
spiked this week and leave it at that. Fortunately, BBI ArcLight
has enthusiastically agreed (Thanks, Arc!) to make the 20th anniversary
edition available on his World Watch OnLine website in pdf format.
We will attempt to sort out the necessary technical mumbo-jumbo
by month's end. Stay tuned. - Big Shoulders

Thanks! I'm sure there are more than a few BBIs who weren't
able to get the hardcopy version who will appreciate access to
the latest issue via the Internet. -R

12/30/04

Reno: Like other BBIs, I've been following the news of the
South Asia earthquake and tsunami with shock and horror. What
can I do to help? -BBI Tin Tin

Dear Tin Tin: There are numerous aid organizations that
are sending food, supplies, medicines, doctors, relief workers,
to the victims of this terrible tragedy. You can join the international
relief efforts by making a monetary donation to one or more of
these groups. There's a number of links to aid charities on the
Institute News page. Thank
you for caring. -R

11/27/04

To All:

The Institute recently became aware that alleged personal
correspondence and original art attributed to W.D. Richter is
being offered for sale on EBay by an individual claiming to be
his first cousin. I queried Rick, and he informs us that he has
no relation named "Marty" and has never painted a picture
in his life. He says this merchandise is obviously fraudulent
and cautions potential buyers against being conned by the person
offering it for sale.

-R

11/2/04

Hi Reno,

Big Shoulders here. Dragon and I just wanted to pass along
a big "Thank You!" to all of the kind people who have
sent us their praises for the 20th Anniversary edition of World
Watch One. You made our day!

Big thanks are also in order for the tireless efforts of all
those Blue Blaze Irregulars, Team Banzai members, and concerned
everyday citizens who contributed their time and talents to make
the newsletter what it is. You guys know who you are. We couldn't
have done it without you!

We still have a few (very few) issues of the newsletter floating
around the Chicago and Portland Bureaus, along with some extra
bonus materials. If you missed the boat, you can request a copy
by e-mailing your snail mail address to either Uqbar101@aol.com
(Big Shoulders) or BluBlazDragon@aol.com (Dragon). We're probably
down to our last seven or eight copies, so don't wait if you
have a notion to get one. Gear up and go!

It also appears that we will be revving up for another issue
after the holidays. Feel free to send all things Banzai -- be
they drawings, essays, interviews, or what have you, to the e-mail
addresses above.

Thanks again, Big Shoulders

Dear Big Shoulders and Dragon- Let me add my thanks and
congratulations on a job very well done. In one big swoop you
have captured the fun and dedication of the early days of the
Blue Blaze Irregulars, while maintaining the level of accuracy
and professionalism required by the exciting times in which we
live. I encourage everyone to find a few minutes to submit something
for the next issue. Like democracy and horse racing, it's more
fun when you participate. Oh, and while I'm not at liberty to
discuss details, I can say that the secret BBI decoder ring (included
with the 20th anniversary edition of World Watch One) recently
played a vital role in averting a potential national security
crisis, despite the fact that my ring appeared to be clogged
with watermelon seeds.-R

10/5/04

Hi Reno, On the subject of "Since I Don't Have You,"
I just wanted to add that a great article about this song appeared
in the April 1986 issue of World Watch One. A copy of
this issue, along with other vintage issues of World Watch
One, can be downloaded at http://www.worldwatchonline.com/library.htm.
Hope that helps, Richard. All the best, Dan "Big Shoulders"
Berger

Big Shoulders; Thanks for the reminder. And for the trip
down memory lane as I reread all the World Watch One newsletters
from those days of fried chicken and Jolt cola; days that seem
not so long ago. For those who only became familiar with Buckaroo
Banzai after the invention of the internet and DVDs, I suggest
you take a look at how a small group (a very small group) started
answering fan mail on weekends and sparked a flame that still
burns today. -R

10/4/04

Hello Banzai Institute, What is the name of the song that
Dr. Buckaroo Banzai sings to Pretty Penny in the docudrama made
in 1984? - Richard, Irregular from Florida

Dear Richard; The song is called, "Since I Don't Have
You," and it was written in 1958 by Joe Rock and Jimmy Beaumont.
The story goes that Rock wrote the lyrics in his car between
stoplights, in honor of the girlfriend who just left him. Beaumont
wrote the music the next night and they recorded it with his
group, The Skyliners. Besides The Hong Kong Cavaliers, it has
also since been recorded by Don McLean, Art Garfunkle, and Guns
& Roses, among others. -R

8/28/04

Dear Reno: Some wonderful "family" news: Fred Koenekamp,
the director of photography on The Adventures of Buckaroo
Banzai, will be receiving the American Society of Cinematographers
(ASC) Lifetime Achievement Award at a ceremony in Los Angeles
on February 20, 2005. %-)

Anyone who cares enough about the people who labor to make
films and television to watch the credits, would have known Mr.
Koenekamp's name long before Rick Richter and Buckaroo brought
him on board the Institute's feature documentary project twenty
years go. I remember being in junior high school, just beginning
to pay attention to those lists of names, and learning Mr. Koenekamp's
when I saw it almost every week in the credits of The Man
From U.N.C.L.E. I remember noticing even then how remarkable
and unique was the camera work on that show. Mr. Koenekamp has
since compiled a long list of credits, our documentary only one
among many memorable titles. He will share this honor with many
of my favorite artists of the lens, including Laszlo Kovacs,
Haskell Wexler, Vittorio Storaro and Vilmos Zsigmond. You can
read more about Mr. Koenekamp, his credits and his impending
honor here: http://www.cinematography.com/index.asp?newsID=171
With deepest thanks for the many, many beautiful, exciting,
original and amazing images he has given viewers over the years,
this one bids him a heartfelt congratulations! -Hollywood

Dear Hollywood; Thanks for the information. It seems that
sometimes we think of the job of "cameraman" as being
as simple point-and-shoot. But the Cinematographer is responible
for the look of the image, the lighting, the choice of wide or
narrow lense, soft focus or hard ... the artistic choices are
endless. Cinematography can make a good movie look lackluster,
and a weak film appear brilliant. The Banzai Institute joins
Hollywood (the woman and the industry) in recognizing the oustanding
achievements of this true artist. -R

8/24/04

Greetings, Hope everything is going all right out your way.
Thought you'd be amused to know I saw another Star Trek-related
instance of the "No matter where you go..." quote.
In the game "Star Trek: Elite Force II," it's visible
on the dedication plate of the USS Dallas. There's a vidcap up
on the World Watch site now. www.worldwatchonline.com, click
IMAGE GALLERY, then select MISC. PHOTOS. There's also a smaller
version up at what may end up being my "blog" (if I
ever write anything else there) at: http://www.worldwatchonline.com/blog/ -Later...
ArcLight, BBI#621, World Watch OnLine: The UnOfficial Buckaroo
Banzai Mailing Lists

Dear Arclight; That Image Gallery of yours is terrific
fun. I honestly had no idea the Boss' seemingly idle, yet strangely
profound comment would find its way into so much of pop culture.
I was only aware of the quote being on one Star Trek dedication
plaque; the U.S.S. Excelsior in "Star Trek VI." Thanks
for the heads up. -R

8/10/04

Dear Reno:

"Another candle and a trip around the sun." So Jimmy
Buffett sings. And so on this twentieth anniversary, I offer
my (possibly somewhat florid) thoughts for the bunkhouse wall;
and also the simpler, more eloquent words of Apache, who is without
cyber access at this time. Please sharpen your grease pencil
and inscribe on the tile wall of the bunkhouse bathroom, on our
behalf, the words below.

From a press conference twenty years ago:

BUCKAROO BANZAI: And you know what? In a hundred million years
from now, that mountain in Texas might not even be there, but
the space will....

Dr. Banzai was, as in most things, elegantly simple in his
explanation of the theory behind the first successful test of
the jet car. Still, journalists who were all too skilled in documenting
the brutal conflicts of our world were left struggling to comprehend
this, one of its more its enticing enigmas. I thought then, how
sad that we are so knowledgeable of the tragedy of human discord
and disaster, yet lack understanding of the glorious mysteries
that bind our world together in large and small ways.

Ironic that mere hours later, fell circumstance would wrench
the hearts and minds of the Institute's residents and friends
away from the pursuit of wisdom and insight and leave us instead
in bitter contemplation of that greatest mystery, which is death.

Yet even we who in those days worked shoulder to shoulder
with Buckaroo and his best and brightest still believed that
in the future lay realization of Rawhide's legacy and our own
happily given gift to the diverse peoples of the world ... a
Banzai Institute of far-reaching availability and influence,
a haven for questing hearts and minds, and an example of ethnic
diversity working together to provide an enduring resource to
this planet's diverse populations.

Now, however, subdued retrospect seeks to infuse Buckaroo's
words of that night years ago with an unhappy insight. Twenty
years have passed, and it seems that the mountain is indeed gone
and only the space is left behind; a terrible vacancy in our
hearts and hopes. The Institute, while still vital and contributory,
remains somewhat obscure. Many of the staff have moved on, albeit
some to better things, but still to our great personal loss.
Dr. Banzai's distinctive approach to problem-solving remains
outside the norm; the extraordinary combination of talents and
personalities here at the Institute remains, alas, unique.

With no imminent second opportunity to place the Institute
in the limelight via the media of motion pictures or television,
it may seem that the lesser hearts and minds who constantly struggle
to wrest power and control away from others in their relentless
pursuit of petty personal goals, disregarding and even destroying
anything that they cannot comprehend as being of direct benefit
to themselves, may have left our bright dream in their dust.

However, as Rawhide often said, even a horse's ass contributes
something to the world, although it may seem at first that that
only plants benefit from it. His dry humor gives us pause and
reminds us that even though we may constantly strive to think
outside the box, we still do not always succeed in seeing the
bigger picture. Perhaps in the greater scheme of things, the
best is indeed yet to come. If only a dream can kill a dream,
it must follow that the death of one dream leaves a better, stronger
vision in its place. And dreaming itself can never be destroyed.

What bright promise may lie ahead that exceeds our limited
vision we cannot know, but only await in happy expectancy. Meantime,
we must not forget that we live in the now, and that each new
day offers new opportunities to live out the principles that
draw us together in support of the Institute. Dr. Banzai and
the Hong Kong Cavaliers lead by example. As Blue Blaze Irregulars
we can do no less than follow in their impressive footsteps,
wishing for no greater reward than that opportunity, and doing
our best to live up to their exemplary paradigm.

Be cool, but care. -Hollywood

Dear Hollywood; As usual, there is nothing I can add except
kochira koso. -R

8/10/04

Dear Reno; I just wanted to say hey to Buckaroo and everyone
at the Institute. Just remember, there may be a mountain hidden
inside a mountain. There may even be a mountain hidden in hiddeness.
Much love to everyone. Apache

Thank you for the kind wishes, Apache. Here's hoping you're
still standing in the saddle. -R

It is with no small amount of disbelief that I look back on
the time we've known each other and realize it has been 20 years
since we sat together in the screening room at the White House,
awaiting the beginning of the landmark film which documented
that tumultuous time in the history of our nation and the world.
I am speaking of course of "Buckaroo Banzai: Against (sic)
the Eighth Dimension." In these days of documentary filmmakers
popping out of every political bush, all I can say is, I'm glad
it was you and not me.

Sincerely,
J.W. Widmark
Commander in Chief, Ret.

Dear Mr. President- Does this mean you're not still mad
at us? ­R

10 AUG 2004

REMINDER TO ALL CAVALIERS, APOSTLES, INTERNS, AND BLUE BLAZE
IRREGULARS:

TONIGHT'S ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION HAS BEEN MOVED OUT OF THE
BUNKHOUSE DUE TO THE UNEXPECTEDLY HIGH NUMBER OF RSVPS. WE WILL
INSTEAD GATHER AT THE SOUTH END OF THE STABLES, WHICH PINKY SAYS
WILL BE PAINTED "MOVIE SCREEN WHITE" BY 7 PM. EARL
MAC RAUCH HAS SENT HIS RECIPE FOR CORONA GOLD CHILI, WHICH HE
PROMISES WILL FEED 500. TO AVOID A REPEAT OF THE EVENTS OF "THE
LAST STARFIGHTER" ANNIVERSARY SCREENING, PERFECT TOMMY WILL
NOT BE OPERATING THE PROJECTOR.

THAT IS ALL.

-MRS. E. JOHNSON

8/10/04

Dear Reno; Please pass along my deepest congratulations to
Messrs. Richter and Rauch on the 20th anniversary of the release
of their docudrama. May we all have as many years ahead of us.
-Toichi Hikita

Thank you, Professor Hikita. -R

8/10/04

Dear Reno, I'm sure you're covered in accolades by now, but
let me add my congratulations to Buckaroo and everyone at the
Institute, as well as W.D. Richter, Earl Mac Rauch and the filmmakers
as we come to the anniversary of the docudrama. Those who know
me will agree it is no exaggeration when I say that film changed
my life. Best wishes for a new film and 20 years more. -Sharkey

Dear Sharkey; From your lips to Fox's ears. -R

8/10/04

Reno; Do you remember when that artist John Eaves requested
the photo reference material on the Jet Car? It turns out he's
designed a commemorative envelope in honor of the anniversary
of the docudrama. He's offered to send one or two our way. How
about we figure a way to auction them for charity? ­Buckaroo

Hey Boss- I'll take a look at the envelopes and post an
announcement in the next day or so. ­R

8/10/04

Dear Reno; Who knew that a conversation over fermented mares
milk would result in so much fun and commotion? Here's to 20
years of celluloid memories. What do you say we do it again?
All the best, W.D. Richter

Dear Rick- Buckaroo was commenting again this morning about
how pleased he was with your direction and Mac's script. Rest
assured, the Banzai Institute will be here when Hollywood is
ready! -R

8/10/04

Happy Anniversary to Buckaroo, Reno, Rick, Mac, Hollywood,
Catnip and everyone else who either helped create this place,
spread the word about it, or just got to kick back with us and
enjoy it. I am honored for having had the chance to find the
good Dr. Banzai and his wonderful world, and I'm very appreciative
of all the wonderful characters I've met along the way. I will
always be extremely grateful for the opportunities it has lead
me to. I can honestly say I am in a better place because of it.
Thanks! Let's rock and roll! - Clyde

And we can't thank you enough for all the wonderful sounds
you've provided the world (not to mention all the photocopying
in those early days.) -R

7/15/04

To All: SUCCESS AT LAST! For those who have long wondered,
"What's that watermelon doing there?" your wait is
over. Check out the Banzai Institute Breaking
News page! -R

7/14/04

Dear Reno- With the 20th anniversary of the release of our
beloved docudrama fast approaching, the conversation turned to
the exact premiere date. Most of the informational web
sites list August 15, but those of us who saw the film on opening
night remember it as August 10. Is there any chance you recall
when the film opened? -Sharkey

Dear Sharkey- Through bitter experience I have discovered
that one source may get a vital piece of information wrong, yet
many others quote that source without checking the facts for
themselves. Such is often the case with the miracle that is the
internet. Since my own recollection is somewhat hazy on the matter,
I put in a call to the film's director, W.D. Richter. Rick
said, and I quote, "Felt to me like it opened February 30th.
Don't ever let it be said I wasn't there when you guys needed
me. Check with Hollywood or Catnip. They'll have the from-now-on-official
release date. Give or take."

Reno, I thought I might share [a story] with the Institute
and my fellow Blue Blaze Irregulars. Some time ago, I submitted
an e-mail to my workplace division's Administrative Assistant
with an inspirational quote. Since Dr. Banzai can always be counted
on to rally the troops in times of need (such as the Yoyodyne
Incident), it came as no suprise to me that our AA forwarded
Dr. Banzai's quote out, not only to my market, but the ENTIRE
Southern US Division of T-Mobile USA. :) The e-mail that was
sent out on my behalf to my company; "No matter where you
go, there you are." :) Sincerely Yours, Josh "Chatterbox"
Maerker, Blue Blaze Irregulars, World Watch 1 Observation Team,
Mississippi Gulf Coast Offices

Dear Chatterbox- Buckaroo asked me to express his pride
in the work you're doing to "rally the troops" in your
sizeable portion of this country. -R

6/6/04

Hi Reno, Big Shoulders here from World Watch One's Chicago
Bureau. I just wanted to pass along a few notes regarding the
20th anniversary edition of the newsletter currently in production.
Many thanks are in order for everyone who has stepped up to contribute
their time and talents to the upcoming issue of World Watch One
thus far. All of the articles, interviews, haikus and bulletin
board postings have just been outstanding. Keep 'em comin'! Our
current deadline for submissions is August 1 so if you have a
notion to send us something over the wire, get to it! We'd love
to hear from ya!

You'll all be glad to know that things are shaping up nicely.
Highlights from the present table of contents include interviews
with W.D. Richter and Billy Vera, an article by Sean Murphy of
Buckaroo Banzai FAQ fame, Mrs. E. Johnson's very own Cinnamon
Bun recipe, and the essential Jr. Blue Blaze Cryptography Set.
It's just like an Enigma Machine in your pocket!

Want a copy? Have something to send us? Done. Just e-mail
BBI Dragon at BluBlazDragon@aol.com. Want to send us something
but you're not sure what? No big thing. Just e-mail Big Shoulders
at Uqbar101@aol.com. Got a problem? Blame it on the Death Dwarves.

-All the best. Dan "Big Shoulders" Berger, Alan
"Dragon" Smith

Dear Big Shoulders- This is great news. Mrs. Johnson asked
to remind you that the cinnamon bun recipe is meant to feed 75
people, so she recommends you do the long division before publishing.
And for those who haven't sent something in, what are you waiting
for? Even if it's just a reminiscence about the first time you
saw the docudrama or how much fun you had on Rawhide's Siberian
survival training course or the time you had to suck snake venom
from Perfect Tommy's left buttock (you know who you are). What's
the latest update on World Crime League activity in your particular
patrol region? Let Big Shoulders and Dragon hear about it. You're
on the clock. Saddle up. -R

4/24/04

Dear Reno, Had a dream last night which has me puzzled and
concerned. I thought you might run it by the noggin fellas at
the Institute. I'm walking through a swarm of beautiful, clockwork
butterflies which make a noise which is actually an odor; like
cigarettes. I feel calm but my heart is beating like a card shuffle.
As I walk, I see treetops below me and a river above. I want
to join the river but I soon see that the butterflies ARE the
river. Then, from what I know to be the West, comes a Geisha
riding a giraffe. She is nodding and smiling at me. She wants
to know about my work and tells me that she is the secret-keeper.
I want to tell her everything I know; from my schooldays through
my research with the Institute. We make love, but in my arms
she becomes a hen. Her head falls off and she runs off laughing.
That's the dream. But, when I awoke, damned if my bed wasn't
in a different position, no longer facing my luck corner. It
was in the middle of the room facing east. That's what made me
contact you, Reno. Ask around for me, would you? It's got me
worried. Thanks, pard. Dr. Pioter Yaychdee, BBI #4,208

Dear Pioter; Professor Hikita suggests you consult with
Dr. Samantha Witwer at the Epoch Sleep Institute in Vancouver,
and use his name. Perfect Tommy thinks you should lay off the
borscht before bedtime. I say just nail your bed to the floor.
-R

4/16/04

Dear Reno: <<Those are some big shoes to fill>>
Hey, now. I may have a size 10 shoe, but you don't have to make
such a big deal out of it. ;-) Let the record show that I started
pretty late in the game -- Hollywood really paved the way. Wouldn't
have been there at all without an invite from her. -Clyde P.S.
Tell Mrs. J. I'm still waiting for the official certificate of
declassified audio so Ben can use the sound of the Planet 10
"hairdryer" in Episode III.

Dear Reno; It was polite of you to include me on the list
of the original creators of the World Watch One, but the truth
is I arrived on the scene much later than Hollywood, Catnip,
Illinois Kate, and the rest. My contribution was limited to making
some photocopies and running to Pink's for breakfast chili dogs.
The real creative energy and ingenuity belongs to them. And I
wish the best of luck to Dragon and Big Shoulders for taking
on this worthy endeavor. My only suggestion is that they keep
the fridge stocked with Jolt Cola. It helps. -Sharkey

Dear Clyde and Sharkey; I'm sure I speak for the founders
of the fan club when I thank you for your kind words. I join
you, along with Buckaroo and W.D. Richter, in singing their praises.
-R

4/16/04

Dear Reno, About a month ago I downloaded the SETI@home project
after seeing it promoted on the Banzai Institute website. I then
joined the Banzai team on the SETI site. I am very pleased to
help this scientific endeavor and am proud to be on the team
that honors Dr. Banzai. Is it possible to see the Banzai team
SETI standings on the Banzai Institute website? Sincerely, Charles

Dear Charles: Thank you for joining the growing number
of Institute members who are participating in the scientific
Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence! Currently, there are
some 57 BBIs who donate their spare computer time by running
the SETI@Home screensaver. They represent the United States,
Great Britain, Australia, and Germany. As of 4/16/04, the Banzai
Institute members have donated some 61.816 years of CPU time,
during which they have performed number crunching on some 42282
SETI work units. Of course, if we'd all started this sooner,
maybe we would have known about Planet 10 early enough to avoid
all that unpleasantness with those Red Lectroids a few years
back.

For more information on the Banzai Institute's SETI team,
including information on how to download the screensaver and
how to sign up, check out the Institute
News page. -R

3/31/04

Dear Reno: Twenty years ago, Blue Blaze Irregulars were kept
informed on crucial Institute updates through the use of an invaluable
resource, which appeared in mailboxes around the globe -- the
World Watch One newsletter (Approved for distribution
to Grade B Clearances).

In recognition of the 20th anniversary of the docudrama, we
announce the return of World Watch One for a special issue. Most
of the names on the masthead have changed, but the newsletter
carries on with the unswerving assistance of those who first
brought it into this world: most notably, docudrama producer/director
W. D. Richter, as well as other Institute personnel.

Now is the time for our fellow Blue Blaze Irregulars to step
forward and make themselves heard. The original World Watch One
was greatly enriched by the contributions of BBIs just like you.
We ask that you send articles, mission updates, recipes, cartoons,
or anything Banzai related. Be creative. Be fun.

For submission guidelines, or if you would like to receive
a copy of the newsletter, please e-mail BBI Dragon at BluBlazDragon@aol.com.
If you think, "I'd like to do my part, but I don't know
how I can help," contact BBI Big Shoulders at Uqbar101@aol.com
for suggestions and moral support.

World Watch One. Coming to a mailbox near you this
September. Believe it.

-Dan "Big Shoulders" Berger, Alan "Dragon"
Smith

Dear Guys- The original WW1 was put out by BBIs
Hollywood, Catnip, Illinois Kate, Silver Fox, Sharkey, and Clyde
Von Drake under the watchful eyes of W.D. Richter. Those are
some big shoes to fill, but I have no doubt you're up to the
task! Everyone should take a minute to jot or type or scribble
something to contribute to this worthy endeavor. -R

3/24/04

Dear Reno- According to the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com),
talking about the movie "Big Trouble in Little China":
The first few drafts of the movie's script were known as "Buckaroo
Banzai vs. The World Crime League," the proposed sequel
to "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai." For whatever
reason, it was later decided to scrap the proposed sequel. The
screenplay was heavily rewritten to become "Big Trouble
in Little China." Obviously Kurt Russell gave the movie
an entirely different flavor, though I could see this as a Buckaroo
Banzai adventure. -Nicholas Christopher

Dear Nicholas: This rumor crops up more often than the
scuba diver in the forest fire. While "Big Trouble"
is a favorite around here, it is its own film from beginning
to end. It's no surprise that it has the flavor of one of our
adventures since the final screenplay was written by our favorite
docudrama producer/director W.D. Richter. According to Mr. Richter,
screenwriters Gary Goldman and David Weinstein created the original
screenplay as a western. Director John Carpenter asked W.D. Richter
to modernize it as a way of simplifying an already complex story.
While this may seem a bit odd, it does explain why Jack Burton
rides into the sunset on his horse (now a semi truck) instead
of kissing the girl. -R

Tommy, Tommy, Tommy. You can log onto Ebay and bid like
everyone else. And don't blame me or the costume designer, Aggie
Guerard Rodgers. Your "eyes" not withstanding, these
decisions are made by the film studio. I just think it's terrific
they're making it available. Maybe I'll ask Mrs. Johnson to pass
the idea along to the accounting fellas. Think how much we could
get for those silver sequined, 12-inch platform shoes you wore
at the Elton John charity concert! -R

3/15/04

Dear Reno; Looks like we have another contender for Planet
10 on our hands. Thought this might be of interest to the Institute.
Now we just have to wait and see if they lump this in with the
Kuiper Belt objects or not. All the best, Dan Berger http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=13841

Dear Dan; Thanks for the heads up on "Sedna"
though I prefer to stay away from the argument of whether or
not this is the real official tenth planet (which may or may
not be Planet X). And for the record, Pinky Caruthers once tried
to duplicate Mrs. Johnson's recipe for cinnamon buns. The result
was unanimously lumped in with the Kuiper Belt objects. -R

3/15/04

Dear Reno; I found a net-film being produced by some Star
Trek fans over at http://www.5yearmission.com.
It looks pretty good. Any chance of such a thing being done for
the Banzai Institute? -Jordan

Dear Jordan; I took a look at that site and I must agree.
The production value is terrific -- very professional looking.
But best of all, did you notice their plug for the Space Shuttle
Children's Trust Fund? Of all the many worthy charities, this
one if near the top of the list around here. -R

2/1/04

Dear Reno, On what would have been his 47th birthday, and
little more than a week after the sixth anniversary of his untimely
death in an auto accident on February 6th in 1998, I would like
to take this time to remember the Austrian rocker Hans Hölzel,
who was better known to the world as Falco. Those of us who still
love and listen to the music of this brilliant lyricist and bassist
will always hold a special place for him in our hearts. Somewhere
in the Great Beyond, Hansi is still rapping that beat! Thanks,
---Cait Sidhe

Dear Cait: The self-proclaimed "Godfather of white
rap," performer/songwriter Falco is perhaps best known in
the U.S. for his syncopated single, "Rock Me Amadeus."
Our departed brother, Rawhide, was often heard to quote Falco's
summary of his troubled life: "You've got a problem when
your success grows faster than the soul." Cait, I appologize
to you and to Falco for taking so long to post your letter, but
this humble musician can only agree. A unique talent like his
will be missed. -R

1/19/04

Dear Reno; I was web-shopping for some Buckaroo Banzai souvenir
patches when I came across Starland.com. Not only do they have
a great
collection of BB patches, t-shirts and pins, but it looks
like this year their annual science fiction convention will be
all about Buckaroo Banzai. Will anyone be attending from the
Banzai Institute? -Weldon

Dear Weldon; The Hong Kong Cavaliers try to visit the Starland
crowd as often as possible. Besides being among the first to
license Buckaroo Banzai merchandise in those thrilling days of
Yoyodyne and docudramas, they've been loyal fans in all the years
since. Everyone should give their website a look (www.starland.com)
and see for themselves. -R

1/13/04

Hey Reno, Just wanted to remind all BBIs out there to check
out the Mars photos taken by Spirit. Very amazing stuff. ­
BBI Strange Agent

Dear Strange Agent; I can only echo your sentiments and
add our congratulations to the folks at NASA and at JPL. To this
observer, the images from Mars seem delightfully alien while
being wonderfully familiar. Take a look for yourself at http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html
-R

1/13/04

Dear Reno; Been awhile since I wrote ... let's hope 2004 is
a good year for the anniversery of the BB movie! I have two questions
for you. In the docudrama, you were seen using 'the scope' (I
assume another Banzai Institute invention.) What is it? What
is it used for? My second question; what is the title of the
next BB novel, or are you privy to that information as of yet?
Thanks! respectfully, cheeze80s

Dear cheeze; A happy and prosperous new year to you and
everyone. I'm not sure which "scope" you're referring
to. If you mean the device we/the actors all took turns peering
into in the green room of Artie's Artery, that was Propmaster
Erik Nelson's nifty version of Professor Hikita's sub-nuclear
microviewer (the real thing has more blinking lights). We used
it to analyze the "slides" taken by the jet car's onboard
camera during its hurtling trip through the 8th Dimension. Besides
simple viewing, it's adjustable to highlight different ranges
of the electromagnetic spectrum, subtle shifts in radiation,
and variations in molecular construction. It's also how Perfect
Tommy and I sorted the images in preparation for the presentation
at the now infamous press conference. Think of it as a glorified
ViewMaster. As for the new novel, the title is still under debate,
even as the manuscript itself is being sharpend to crystal clarity.
But I can state unequivocally that it will not be called, "Perfect
Tommy Kicks the World Crime League's Ass!" as has been widely
reported on the internet. -R

1/13/04

Reno, Have any plans been made to commemorate the upcoming
20th anniversary of the docudrama? Happy Holidays, Riptide (BBI
#2708)

Dear Riptide; At this point, we've gotten invitations to
appear at celebrations in Ordinary, Kentucky and Normal, Illinois;
in Tulsa and Tanna-Tuva; at the White House and in the High Council
Chamber on Planet X. But we've had to decline them all since
the Hong Kong Cavaliers have agreed to a USO tour through the
entire month of August. The exact places and dates are classified
for obvious reasons. If any Blue Blaze Irregulars have any plans
they'd like to alert the rest of us to, of course this forum
is available as always. -R

12/24/03

"From the hearts and heads of good men. Wishing you the
Joy and the Beauty of a Great Holiday seasons. Let Peace be the
norm." -Mickey Maus (BBI agent)

Well said! -R

12/16/03

Hola, Reno, Just read the dispatch from the Agents of Thunder.
I live about 40 miles from Roswell. Any help I can offer is yours.
Strange Agent

Dear Strange Agent: Your help is always appreciated. And
speaking of extraterrestrials, I was pleased to notice that you
recently joined the ranks of the Banzai Institute's SETI@Home
team. Thanks for lending a hand there, too. -R

12/10/03

Reno, Best wishes for the New Year to everybody at the Institute.
Is the boss endorsing anyone in the 2004 Presidential race? Agent
13.

Nope. -R

12/9/03

Phantom (BBI #33537) reporting in! This is the first time
we of the Agents of Thunder have reported in, but Desert Rose
of the Cyclone Ranger's Rough Riders has instructed me to send
her greetings. I want you to update you on two possible threats.
The first is fairly simple: Upon viewing my copy of the B. Banzai
docudrama, I noticed something unsettling. The Secretary of Defense's
name is John. There are several possible paths here: 1, you at
the Institute changed the name of the SoD during the Lectroid
incident; 2, the SoD is, as the unfortunate Dr. Emilio Lizardo
was, carrying a Red Lectroid. We at the Agents of Thunder would
love some clarification, if the information is not still classified.
The second is more recent, but far less definable. The international
menace of Hanoi Xan has reached here. We have intercepted a courier
who was carrying documents of welcome to one of our nemeses,
a shadowy figure known to us only as El Brujo. Do the Hong Kong
Cavaliers have any information we could use on El Brujo, or as
to whether or not he is a member of the W.C.L.? We would love
any information you guys have. Thank you, Agents of Thunder

Hi, Reno. Since an update to the Institute is long overdue,
I asked Phantom to give you the specific points of interest.
Here is a broader overview of what the Agents of Thunder have
been involved in. You would not believe the level of paranormal
activity out here. I suppose I should not be surprised. Encantado
does not mean "enchanted" in the usual sense. It has
connotations of "bespelled" or "ensorcelled."
On a final note, I got a notice through our network of agents
that something is brewing down near Roswell. I will have an agent
contact the BBI network in Roswell. I understand that they have
moved their base of operations to the alien museum there. Have
you at the Institute heard anything different? I understand that
there is a new agent in New Mexico seeking contacts. Please let
Strange Agent know about the Agents of Thunder, Reno. Thanks,
and all my best to you. Tell Perfect Tommy that the jacket looked
better on Penny anyway. He should avoid plaids. Desert Rose (BBI
#2525, RR #6, AT #1)

Dear Phantom and Desert Rose; Thank you both for the updates
from great the South West. I will try to answer your concerns
as briefly as possible. While there were times during the events
surrounding Yoyodyne that even I had suspicions as to whose side
the Secretary of Defense was really on, the simple fact is he
was uncomfortable with his name being associated with our chronicles.
In the novelization, it was no trouble to refer to him only by
his title or simply, "Mr. Secretary." When the time
came to film our exploits, docudrama director W. D. Richter and
writer Earl Mac Rauch felt there were times when the interaction
of characters required he be called by name. Whether by random
chance or creative mischievousness, they chose "John."
To your second question, a database search turned up a Juan Brujo
on the payroll of the international financial cartel, World Capital
Lending. Buckaroo suggests you focus your investigation there
and let him know what you find. Finally, the BBIs in Roswell
had to move out of the alien museum almost as soon as they moved
in, since their RSE kept interfering with the radio controlled
gray-head alien in the museum's close encounter reenactment (every
20 minutes, free with musuem admission.) Mrs. Johnson will tell
them to contact you. In the meantime, don't forget you're all
invited to drop by the Arizona facility for the New Year's Eve
Apple Bobbing tournament. -R

11/25/03

Dear Reno, I live in the wilderness of southern New Mexico,
so I've been a little out of touch with what's going on with
Team Banzai. Imagine my surprise when in the span of a week,
I discovered the Institute website, the special edition DVD,
and the reprint of the novel! I am one happy camper, having up
until now the only the Vestron VHS release of the docudrama and
my battered, yet trusty copy of the original Buckaroo Banzai
paperback to keep up with the exploits of Dr. Banzai and the
Hong Kong Cavaliers. Incidentally, the features on the DVD are
amazing and I fervently hope that the Buckaroo Banzai TV series
(reality television?) comes to fruition. Though I think I found
a mistake in Pinky's otherwise excellent subtitle presentation.
Wasn't it Tesla, and not Einstein, who carried out the so-called
"Philadelphia Experiment" based on Einstein's Unified
Field Theory? By the way, if you need an operative in New Mexico,
let me know. I'm sure with Los Alamos National Labs and White
Sands Missile Range, not to mention the VLA, the Institute could
probably use a hand or two out here. Say Hi to the Boss for me,
- Strange Agent P.S. also, thanks for the info about SETI@Home.
I downloaded it right away and joined the Banzai Institute group.

Welcome back, Strange Agent. Glad you found us here, in
print, and on DVD. I consider the SETI@Home project a marvelous
use of otherwise idle computing power ... with a very cool screen
saver. And by now you've probably seen the announcement of a
new novelization in the works, chronicling what I consider one
of our most challenging endeavors. Your observations regarding
the research into radar invisibility conducted in the late 1930s
and early 1940s are partially correct. Both both Nikola Tesla
and Albert Einstein were involved, as well as a brilliant mathematician
and quantum theorist named John von Neumann. Professor Hikita
says that, according to the scuttlebutt in the mathematics community,
von Neumann did not care to be under the authority of what he
called "that degreeless Hungarian." Tesla reportedly
left the project in disgust, and they went on to use von Neumann's
equations with results that are disputed to this day. -R

10/25/03

Dear Reno: I realize that the subject of the proposed Buckaroo
Banzai television series is a matter that has come up in the
Bunkhouse with enough repetition to be rendered downright redundant,
even repetitive. And redundant too. Even so, I can't help but
ask; is the series still being actively pursued? Who currently
owns the rights to make future Banzai docudramas? What part,
if any, have DVD sales of The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai
Across the Eighth Dimension had in the promotion or negation
of future projects? Can the full story of life after the docudrama
finally be told in detail? Could I ask any more questions? Could
I? All the best, - Dan Berger

Dear Dan: The strong sales of both MGM's
Special Edition DVD of The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai
Across the Eighth Dimension, as well as Pocket Books' new edition of Earl Mac Rauch's novelization
have not escaped the notice of watchful eyes both in and out
of Hollywood. At this point, however, the project that is the
nearest to fruition is Earl Mac Rauch's next novel in the Buckaroo
Banzai saga. This tome, to be published by Pocket Books, has
been in the works for what seems like an eternity. On one hand,
I find myself almost frustrated at EMR's perfectionism that has
led to so many drafts and versions of this compelling tale. On
the other hand, I keep reminding myself that this is the exact
same tortuous process that, years ago, gave us that original
screenplay that both entertained and enlightened the world with
Dr. B. Banzai's true story. Keep asking questions, Dan. They'll
be answered in due course. In the meantime, I continue to counsel
patience. -R

Dear Cait; Our dear friend Rawhide took his share of ribbing
for what I certainly thought was a ridiculous notion. His talk
of a "space elevator" seemed to come more from a strong
cup than a serious mind, Sir. Arthur C. Clarke notwithstanding.
Now it appears I must add that apology to my list of things to
say to the big cowboy should we ever meet again. -R

9/15/03

Dear Reno, How about confirming an unconfirmed report floating
around the 'net? One that alleges the plot of the newly released
Once Upon a Time in Mexico was in fact based upon an unpublished
exploit of the boss' that took place during one of the Hong Kong
Cavalier's south of the border tours? And if so, who told the
tale to Robert Rodriguez? - Seth S.

Dear Seth- I can confirm that the film is not based on
any incident originating from Institute personnel; and the reason
I know this is because the wonderfully talented Rodriguez told
us the tale himself during our triptych Spy Kids film
festival months ago. On the other hand, it is true I have begun
lobbying for Mr. Depp to play my role in future film projects.
So far he has not returned my calls. -R

9/12/03

Dear Reno: You may or may not think it's appropriate to post
to the Bunkhouse ... but a fine and honorable colleague of Dr.
Banzai's has passed on, and I think that passing is worth a nod
from the Institute. Bruce Springsteen called Warren Zevon "an
idealist wrapped in cynic's clothing." Dr. Banzai is, himself,
a pragmatist who wears the cloak of idealism ... fair company.
I would have loved to have seen a collaboration between the two
... that would have been a jam session worth cramming myself
into a dank, smoky corner of Artie's Artery to attend. My remembrance,
for them as cares, can be found at www.halfaft.com. Mr. Zevon's
passing leaves Dr. Banzai one of a few; a shining star in a diminished
galaxy of souls who offer realistic inspiration, level-headed
optimism, discreet yet unrepentant idealism, and the hope of
hope itself in the seemingly overpowering reality of too-easily
embraced lesser expectations left to those individuals who dream
of greater things, for themselves and for this world. -GreenWoman,
aka Hollywood

Thank you, Hollywood. For those who are unaware, singer-songwriter
Warren Zevon passed away on September 7 after a year-long battle
with cancer. The prolific artist's work includes "Poor Pitiful
Me," "Werewolves of London," "Excitable Boy,"
and my personal favorite, "Lawyers, Guns, and Money".
Zevon used his last months to compose and record a final album,
"The Wind" which was released only weeks before his
death. When Andrew Dansby called from Rolling Stone asking for
a quote, Buckaroo declined, explaining, "It doesn't matter
what I say. In a world of phonies, wannabes, and even fictional
musical acts, Warren Zevon was the real thing. There is nothing
for me to add." Dansby's article can be found at http://www.rollingstone.com/news/newsarticle.asp?nid=18640&cf=1495.
Zevon's family asks that any memorial donations be sent to VH1's
Save the Music Foundation at http://www.vh1.com/partners/save_the_music/ -R

8/26/03

Hi, I'm sure you get this letter often so I'll keep it short
and to the point. First of all, your site is excellent and I'm
delighted to find Banzai fans on the internet, let alone an official
website. I believe I may have found an error on your site, though.
According to the DVD, the title for Buckaroo's legions of helpers
is the "Blue Blazer Regulars," as opposed to, as you
have them listed the "Blue Blaze Irregulars." It's
an easy mistake to make given how quickly the phrase is spoken
the several times it's used in the film, but the subtitles on
the DVD leave no doubt as to the actual lines. I hope this information
useful. -Michael Delaney, Blue Blazer Regular.

Dear Michael; Your information is useful in that it adds
to a discussion that carried long into the New Brunswick night.
During the planning phase of the DVD, issues of national and
Institute security surfaced quite regularly. The most obvious
example is that, as a small measure of personal protection, the
actors do not resemble the real life Cavaliers they portray.
It was debated as to whether or not we should reveal this information
in the "additional materials" portion of the DVD, simply
by way of trivia but also partially nullifying its effectiveness
as a means of security. (One advocate for including it was docudrama
director W.D. Richter who pleaded with me during one very long
distance call, claiming he has been derided by fans and professionals
alike who know the Boss and still can't adjust to Peter Weller's
otherwise stellar portrayal.) But I digress. My feeling was that
we should use the incorrect verbiage in the various subtitle
tracks as a means of further confounding our enemies. B. Banzai
pointed out that the correct usage has already appeared in countless
articles, technical journals, travel guides, comic books, and
fashion magazines, not to mention my own novelization companion
to the docudrama. Buckaroo also reminded me that it was a nod
to one of his favorite fictional characters -- echoing the Baker
Street Irregulars of Sherlock Holmes. As you've noticed, I ignored
his instructions. The result is confusion for our friends perhaps
more than our enemies. In short, "Blue Blaze Irregulars"
is correct. -R

8/15/03

Hi Reno - Greetings once again from England: the Banzai
Institute's SETI team now has a member in the UK and a couple
of hundred more work units under its belt. Thanks to Mike and
Denise for sorting things out - what a great idea. Nice to see
that you and Mrs Johnson are keeping things busy on the web.
Long may it continue. Oh, and please apologise to the good Doctor
for the mix up, but it appears that VEGA's Space Director, Dave
Whittle, got Blur in to do some work on the Beagle 2 lander call
signal rather than the Hong Kong Cavaliers as we'd all expected.
Something about their legal advisor living next door to one of
our former directors, apparently.. Best, Chris (http://www.head1st.demon.co.uk)

Chris: Thanks for joining the SETI team, and welcome to
our first member from the UK! And you should know that the Boss
is thrilled that Blur's music is traveling to Mars aboard ESA's
Beagle 2 lander as part of the Mars Express mission. He asked me to tell
you that he is looking forward to hearing that tune being broadcast from the Red Planet
in December. -R

8/14/03

Greetings Reno and All, I was fortunate enough in my dutiful
scanning of the DARPA-NET to uncover strangely oblique references
to a release of certain documents into the wild. I acquired some
samples for study and hope to isolate DNA traces of the nefarious
HX with which I can surreptitously begin a tracking and location
algorithm. On the lighter side, I'm glad that Clyde's endeavors
reminded me to update my bookmarks and return to the Bunkhouse.
Why shucks--I even signed over my work units to the SETI
team! I wonder if they can bounce the Arecibo signal down
onto New Jersey just for grins and giggles.... -Happy Anniversary
& Happy Trails, Zeke, BBI Q36ESM

Zeke: Welcome to the Banzai Institute SETI team! According
to the latest statistics (as of 8/14/03), Banzai
Institute team members have thus far contributed some 16.9
years of computer time to the Search for Extraterrestrial Life!
During that time, their personal computers have performed number-crunching
on over 9500 SETI data units. -R

8/10/03

Dear Reno: Each year that passes brings new events of great
import, and lesser, to our lives. Of these milemarkers, some
demand great energy and attention, while others seem to merely
increase the clutter of insignificant memory. Yet somehow, each
year finds me at pause on this date, thinking back to the events
of another August 10 ... a persistant and happy memory which
I hope shall never fade. All best to everyone at the Institute.
Happy anniversary. -Hollywood

Hollywood; Here's to all those hard facts and persistence;
to photocopies and fried chicken; to those who can dream it and
be it; to those who write the words and to those who have the
nerve to read them and answer; to those who are cool, but care.
Thanks for the good wishes. -R

7/29/03

Hi Reno ­ Just wanted you to let everyone know that I
have donated a rare piece of memorabilia from the Buckaroo Banzai
docudrama to be auctioned off, benefiting a non-profit website
that is very close to my heart and that I am also sending many
other rare documents regarding the movie to a certain film library
for those serious about researching it. A one-of-a-kind piece
- the original typewritten masters of the film's press kit -
will be auctioned off on eBay to help support Hollywood Lost
and Found <www.HollywoodLostAndFound.net>, a site dedicated
to sharing film history. For more information on this sale, which
ends on August 10th (the anniversary of that special docudrama),
please visit www.HollywoodLostAndFound.net/banzaiauction. And
while you're at the site, I'm sure you'll find the secret of
where I'm sending the other rare papers regarding the film. We
don't want just anyone finding them, now do we? All the best,
Clyde

Dear Clyde: Keep up the good work! -R

7/29/03

Respectful Greetings to Dr. Banzai and your good self Mr.
Reno: As the chief archivist and representative to the world
for the group known as Ay'esha (She Who Must Be Obeyed) I am
gratified to note the opinion of such a distinguished scientist
and humanitarian on the subject of the recent "war".
Ay'esha has worked for many years behind the scenes to restrict
the more hostile natures of men for the betterment of the world
with reasonable amounts of success up to the last year or so.
We support the free speech rights of Dr. Banzai and also support
the rights of people to disagree with him in a polite and intelligent
manner. Dr. Banzai has dedicated his life to the betterment of
mankind without regard to sociopolitical disagreement and should
be admired for "sticking to his guns" in the face of
a hostile audience. The Mother of Many and my own superior, Mistress
Minx of Ay'esha support the work of the Banzai Institute and
wish Dr. Banzai and his staff every blessing of the Goddess.
Respectfully, Dr Charles Forbin Chief Archivist Ay'esha http://ayesha.cjb.net

Dear Charles: Please give our regards to Colossus. -R

6/28/03

Reno; I just received the following from an old friend of
mine, and thought you might be interested. "I'm reading
my new July issue of ELLE - which is a pretty swanky hip
fashion magazine. One of their articles is on hair color. On
the page for the Editor's comments (pg. 16) her last line is:
'Or, as Buckaroo Banzai would say, wherever you go with that
new hair color, there you are.'" I'm not sure if this is
an example of Buckaroo Banzai's unusual longevity as a phenomenon
of pop culture, or merely an image marketing enhancement ploy
on the part of Perfect Tommy. Either way, I thought enquiring
minds would like to know. ;-) Hollywood

Dear Hollywood; We all know better than to put such a thing
past Tommy. These days, our favorite karma chameleon is sporting
a bright red do. Did the article tout the value of henna as a
way to make one more Lectroid-like? -R

6/20/03

Dear Reno; Whatever happened to the proposed series detailing
the exploits of the boss, and those around him (aka The Hong
Kong Cavaliers and The Blue Blaze Irregulars)? "Happiness
is A Warm Gun" -Kelly

Dear Kelly; If you're referring to the television series
proposed by Polygram and Fox, Earl Mac Rauch, W.D. Richter managed
to turn my hodge-podge of notes into a very entertaining pilot
script, which is "still in discussion around town"
as they evidently say in Hollywood. If you mean the new Buckaroo
Banzai novel, that is moving the editorial labyrinth at Simon
& Schuster/Pocket Books, and Buckaroo promises to let everyone
know as soon as we learn when it will hit the streets. -R

6/4/03

Hey Reno, I hadn't heard anything about a deal between Ma
Bell and the Institute. Is the use of the name "Go Phone"
approved by the Boss? Just curious. By the way, irony can be
pretty ironic: I'm currently working for someone else with the
same initials as our fearless leader. Tell him that the big guy
on campus at Warner Bros says "What's up?" - Clyde

Hey there Clyde! Our legal folks tell us it's best not
to discuss the specifics of who gave whom permission to use what,
especially since it appears some particular whom may have been
drunk after a late-night rendezvous with a guitar groupie/advertising
writer when said permissions were shared. Our best to Yacko,
Wacko, and Dot. -R

5/31/03

Dear Reno: On behalf of the fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's
The Lost World, we'd like to thank everyone at the Banzai
Institute for their gracious support in helping make the recent
e-Bay auction of the Lost World's OSCILLATION OVERTHRUSTER
prop (non-working) such a success. The OVERTHRUSTER was sold
for $405.00 to benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation,
which is the charity supported by this year's Second Annual Lost
World Convention. (For more convention information, go to http://www.angelfire.com/tv2/tlwcon/.)
-Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, Supervising Producers, Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World

Dear Judith and Garfield: Thank you for letting us be part
of your good works. -R

5/30/03

Hello Reno: I have a question to ask and hope you can answer
it. Back in January of this year, there was a very wonderful
series on ABC called Miracles. This series, for those
that have not seen it, was a thought provoking series that brought
out the best in everyone that seemed to stumble upon it. Sadly,
the PTB at ABC decided that reality based program, those mindless
so called real life stories were more worthy than a series that
would force the viewer to think, to question and to seek out
knowledge. Many of the Miracles fans would not sit back
idle-ly and allow this series to go the way of so many other
endangered species. We have taken up the cause to fight and have
at least all the episodes released some way. My question is,
I have pointed several people that are the main hub of this campaign
to this site. I was wondering would Dr. Banzai be offended if
the Miracles team patterned their means of working toward
getting this series picked up or released on DVD after the Institute.
They are impressed at the community cohesiveness that is found
here. I hope that you understand what I am asking and that you
can give me an answer. Thank you so much. -BBI Sundevi. (aka
devisun), Houston, Texas

Dear Sundevi: Grassroots community efforts, whether they
be of concerned viewers, neighborhood groups, or far-flung Internet
families, have been the cornerstone of democracy that has led
to much progress on matters great and small. The Boss wishes
you the best of luck in yours. -R

5/15/03

Hey Reno! Just wanted to drop you a note to say that The Lost
World Convention has put our OSCILLATION OVERTHRUSTER up for
bid on eBay this week. It's a standby prop for Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle's The Lost World tv show. We have received certification
from Dr. Banzai himself that our OVERTHRUSTER is a non-functioning
model of the "real" device! Please pass the info along
to any that are interested. Thanks! -Annette Welsh-Shinya, President,
The Lost World Convention

Dear Annette: Thanks for the heads-up! The Boss is especially
pleased that you are donating all of the proceeds of this auction
to the Elizabeth
Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, a worthy cause, indeed.
(This also means that the entire purchase price, except for shipping,
will be tax deductable in the US.) Special note to all potential
bidders: The auction closes on Thursday, May 22, 2003. -R

UPDATE 5/24/03: The OVERTHRUSTER auction has been re-listed
and can be found at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3328975997.
The new listing has no reserve and most importantly, now has
the words "Buckaroo Banzai" in the auction title so
that Blue Blaze Irregulars can find it more easily. The new listing
ends on Saturday, May 31, 2003. -R

5/7/03

Dear Reno, With all the renewed X-Men hullabaloo I got to
wondering...what is the Institute's prognosis for mankind's evolvement
(accepting, of course, that Perfect Tommy is the ultimate evolution
in human genetics)? Are we destined to transcend this crude matter
and become luminous beings, should we last that long as a species?
Or will we at least achieve some super cool special powers individually?
Has Dr. Banzai overseen any theorizing in this area? -Seth S.

Dear Seth; While there has been much theorizing, genetic
experts (who prefer to remain anonymous) tell me that human mutations
even so far as metallic skin and giant wings are not entirely
impossible. However, a more practical application would be one
in which a predisposition for cancer could be isolated and removed
from the genetic code. And this in turn raises the questions
of what damage we might do in the process, or if we should begin
engineering DNA "accentuating the positive" instead
of only "eliminating the negative." B. Banzai has always
said that he is no more a "super hero" than is the
city bus driver, the preschool teacher, or the emergency room
nurse. He maintains we all have "super cool special powers"
if only we tap into them and use them to better the human race.
-R

5/6/03

Reno, Princess Red was poking around the website, and she
read over Mrs. Johnson's interview
where she mentioned Cavaliers, Irregulars, and Apostles. She
wanted to know what Apostles were. I explained that it was hard
to explain. Can you give it a shot? - Agent 13

Dear Agent 13; As with so much around here, the exact form,
duties, and scope of the "Apostle" have never been
precisely codified. As a job title, it has grown up around those
who choose to be somewhat different than the Cavaliers or Blue
Blaze Irregulars; equally involved but less proactive in the
hands-on sense than the Irregulars; less musical than the Cavaliers.
Similar to the traditional definition, our Apostles see themselves
as among the first advocates of a belief system that stems from
the ideals we strive to practice here at the Institute. Not so
much a religious vocation (since indeed they come from many differing
spiritual backgrounds) but a commitment to endeavor toward a
moral and ethical goal, and to encourage others to do the same.
They also have several sub-radar gospel CDs out on Mean Supper
Records. I hope this helps clear up the issue. -R

Dear Brucifer; I'm afraid I for one must admit to absolute
ignorance to either of these endeavors. But Mrs. Johnson plans
to keep their contact information for next Thanksgiving. -R

4/16/03

Dear Reno; I know this may sound a little childish, but some
friends are going to a midnight showing of the Buckaroo Banzai
docudrama and I wanted to dress the part. Any idea where I can
get some glasses like the ones Buckaroo wears in the film? Thanks.
-Arizona Slim

Dear Slim; The Boss says he is honored that you want to
emulate him, but we can't offer any suggestions as to finding
the glasses. I have heard of some having success at local thrift
stores or "retro" shops. One thing to consider is (in
the interest of security) those glasses in the film look nothing
like the ones Buckaroo wears. No one here can recall Prop Master
Erik Nelson mentioning where he found them. However, when I double
checked my notes on the film's production, I did come across
a clue. I'm not saying for sure (and keeping in the delightful
spirit of childishness), but look at this picture of W.D Richter
directing Christopher Lloyd. Compare it with the insert of Peter
Weller and decide for yourselves. -R

4/15/03

Howdy Reno; Seriously: when are we gonna see the new Buckaroo
Banzai novel? This year? Next year? -jplee

Dear JP; I could say, "These things take time,"
which is true, but it can't be denied the bottleneck is yours
truly. The latest draft of Earl Mac Rauch's manuscript is on
my desk waiting for my red pen. Though the work he and W.D. Richter
have supplied so far has been superb (considering my notes were
somewhat scattered, as one might expect, given the circumstances),
I'd rather err on the side of accuracy, especially given all
the fallacious accounts spread by the popular media in and around
Idaho. Seriously: when I know, we'll announce it here first.
-R

4/12/03

Dear
Reno: Just another question regarding the BB
DVD...I can't find a NUON enhanced DVD player anywhere in
my area, so I can't access the NUON features on the DVD release
of the docudrama. What am I missing out on? - Ken Hitt - Research
Division Head - fusionaddict industries - (http://www.fusionaddict.net)

Dear Ken: The Nuon features mainly give viewers the ability
to zoom in on several different images to see details of the
Jet Car and the Bus. To be honest, we don't have a Nuon-capable
DVD player at the Institute, so I've never seen these features
in action, but our friends at MGM Home Video assure us that they're
a lot of fun. -R

4/9/03

Dear Reno, Am I imagining things or did I recently see an
OSCILLATION OVERTHRUSTER on an episode of the TV series The
Lost World? A while back, there was an episode in which
a mysterious device appeared as part of a criminal exchange in
the backstreets of London. That device bore a striking resemblance
to Dr. B. Banzai's famous invention. Do you know anything
about this? -BBI Prairie Dog

Dear Prairie Dog: A quick call by Mrs. Johnson to
the Australian Gold Coast put her in touch with Judith and Garfield
Reeves-Stevens, supervising producers for New Line Television's
series, Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World. They told her
that the show's art department provided a prop that closely resembled
the OVERTHRUSTER for their third season episode, "Legacy."
In that episode, the device (it wasn't called an overthruster)
was used as payment for a mysterious medallion rumored to control
time and space. Both Judith and Garfield were mum when
asked how they were able to duplicate the device so accurately,
but I somehow suspect that Scooter may have had a hand in this
unauthorized technology transfer. We'll keep you posted.
-R